The new edition covers all the law, practice and procedure on sexual offending in England and Wales since 1957; whether you have a complicated historical sexual abuse case, or a sexual offending charged under the 2003 Act, you’ll find all the answers to your questions in the Sexual Offences Handbook.

The book is divided into four parts:

Practice and procedure – including chapters on witnesses, evidence, defences and defendants;

Law – including chapters on historic offences, current offences and online offending including indecent and exploitative images;

Sentencing – including chapters on current and historic sentencing practice and other orders the courts can make including notification, sexual offences prevention orders and foreign travel orders.

Other relevant offences – including chapters on offences which may be relevant in sexual cases but are not sexual by their very nature including sexually motivated homicide.

New legislation

Included in the second edition is a section on the prospective legislation which will replace the sexual offences prevention order; Part 9 of the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, when enacted, will make substantial changes to the legislation concerning preventive orders used in sexual offences cases. This new edition contains all the relevant provisions practitioners will need to know when this legislation is brought into force.

Sentencing Guidelines

In April 2014, the Sentencing Council’s new guidelines on sentencing for sexual offences cases came into force. The second edition contains all the guidelines inserted at the relevant chapter, and – following some confusion and clarification by the Sentencing Council – the elements of the “old” 2007 guideline which remain in force.

Practical tips

Felicity and Catarina have a wealth of experience in prosecuting and defending in rape and other sexual offences cases. Where relevant, each chapter contains a “practical tips” section offering advice and guidance based on this experience.

Endorsements

“I have no doubt that this second edition will be received by all judges, the media, educators and practitioners in this field with a sense that an intelligent answer will be found in this book quickly and efficiently, and I wholeheartedly recommend it.” – His Honour Judge Nicholas Browne QC